Salford Council is set to invest £2.5million in its computer system to avoid cyber attacks.
Thousands of computers used by town hall staff work on a Windows 7 operating system, which will reach the end of its life in January. Microsoft has confirmed that it will no longer produce security updates, making the computers vulnerable to hackers.
Council documents show that ‘competitive pricing has been secured.’
It adds: “These devices must be replaced as a matter of urgency and before Microsoft support for Windows 7 ceases in January 2020.”
“The business of the council must not be put at risk of cyber attacks, which threaten data and the closure of those systems, and the serious legal financial and reputational consequences which flow.”